Yo, Blair! [antikvár]

Prologue: A strong ally I can go out and just talkIn July 2006, two Prime Ministers came to Washington, one a novice, the other a very familiar visitor. Following the elections only months earlier, Nouri al-Maliki had been appointed Prime Minister of Iraq, personifying that very démocratisation of the country which President George W. Bush had proclaimed as a final reason for the invasion in March 2003, after all other ostensible justifications had collapsed. Maliki's visit proved wonderfully embarrassing.By way of response to Hezbollah rockets - and acting on the Biblical principle 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands' - Israel had launched a devastating attack on Lebanon which laid waste much of the country, provoking angry criticism throughout most ofthe world and a fresh wave of hatred in all Arab and Muslim countries. While this was happening, Maliki met various politicians in Washington, who told him that he must condemn Hezbollah and express his sympathy for Israel. He declined to do so, and was in turn angrily upbraided, notably by Congressional Democrats who were vying as ever to outdo the Republicans in unconditional support for Israel.'Unless Mr Maliki disavows his critical comments of